Posted by thswarriors.com on November 11, 2009 SSL Ramblings ...
Warriors Travel To Arvin For SSL Finale
Playoff Brackets Announced This Week
Despite the heartbreaking loss to Wasco, the mighty Warriors are still in great position to have another memorable and successful season.
First, a win over Arvin this Friday night guarantees Tehachapi at least a share of a SSL crown in 2009. Secondly, the Warriors are in great position to defend their back-to-back CIF Central Section Division III championships. The seeding will be very important as it will dictate the opportunities that the Warriors will have to play at home. Historically, the Warriors have had a decisive advantage playing at home during the playoffs in late November - early December. The playoff brackets will be announced this Saturday from the CIF offices in Porterville.
Around the SSL ... Warriors at Arvin This Friday Night
The Warriors will travel to Arvin this Friday night to meet the Bears. While the Warriors are 7-2 for the season; 3-1 in SSL play, Arvin has struggled with a 2-7 overall record; 1-3 in SSL play.
Last Friday Arvin defeated Bakersfield Christian, 28-21, to snap a six game losing streak. The Bears are led by quarterback Alejandro Quintero #10, and running backs Christian Lopez #27, Dario Saravia #22, and Freddy Herrera #33. Saravio is also leads the team in defensive tackles.
The Warriors lead the overall series, 14-4, with Arvin winning their last SSL championship in 2006. Arvin is the largest school in the SSL with over 2,000 students and will enter the CIF central section playoffs in Division IV, if they elect to participate this year?
Taft will be heavy favorites as they will play Bakersfield Christian.
And finally, the long and storied rivalry between Shafter and Wasco will round out the schedule this week. Wasco will be a heavy favorite --- but you never know when these two get together.
Wins by Tehachapi, Taft, and Wasco will create a three-way tie for first in the SSL. Wasco has never won the SSL since Tehachapi joined the league in 1992. In fact, the last time Wasco has won a league championship is believed to be in 1961!
Playoff Brackets To Be Released This Saturday By The CIF Central Section ...It's a great time of year when playoff football begins --- especially if your favorite team is in the thick of things. For Warriors fans, it should be interesting to see how the Warriors are seeded? The Fresno Bee, despite the loss to Wasco, still ranks Tehachapi as the #1 seed in Division III.
Central Section Commissioner Jim Crichlow and three other Commissioners will do all the seedings this Saturday. When records are identical, or things get a little tough, there are several key factors to consider:
* Head to head competition
* Record vs common opponents
* Overall record
* Strength of schedule
The first three items on the list are easy to decipher, its the strength of schedule factor that gets a little dicey.
There will be a maximum of 16 teams eligible for the Division III tournament --- with no guarantee all will participate in the tournament (example: Madera South is 1-8). There is no clear cut favorite for the number #1 seed, but here are some of the teams looking for high seeds in the tournament.
Tehachapi (7-2; 3-1 in SSL) plays Arvin this week.
Dinuba (7-2; 3-2 in CSL) plays Immanuel this week.
Delano (7-2; 3-2 in EYL) plays Chavez this week.
Porterville (6-3; 4-1 in EYL) plays Monache this week.
South High (6-3; 2-3 in SWYL) plays Ridgeview this week.
Hanford (5-4; 3-2 in WYL) plays Lemoore this week.
Clovis North (4-5; 0-4 in CMAC) plays Edison-Fresno this week.
One footnote about Clovis North, they are a new school with no seniors on the team. They play in a very tough league with other large Fresno area schools. Warrior fans may remember a new Clovis East High School football team, also with no seniors, came to Tehachapi a few years ago in the playoffs and upset the Warriors --- before being moved up to Division I the following year.
And finally, Segestrom High School of Santa Ana defeated perennial league champion Westminster this past Friday night, 42-28. Westminster is the defending five-time Golden West league champions and had won 30 straight league games before the Segestrom defeat. Segestrom plays Santa Ana High this Friday night hoping to claim their first league title in school history. The Warriors defeated Segerstrom in the opening game of the season, 21-20. We should add the Segerstrom JV's are also in first place in league play and the Frosh squad is undefeated this season. Sounds like the Jaguars are building quite a program.
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